The Iowa Hawkeyes jumped to 14-1 on the season after taking down the Michigan Wolverines on Friday, Feb. 10 by a score of 33-8. The Hawks had vengeance on their minds after their loss to Penn State two weeks ago.
Iowa started off strong with three time national champion and #1 ranked 125 pound wrestler Spencer Lee. Lee beat Michigan’s #14 Jack Medley by a score of 11-2, earning a bonus point to kick the night off.
(JOSEPH CRESS/IOWA CITY PRESS-CITIZEN)
After Lee, the Hawkeyes rolled. #13 Brody Teske tech falled Wilfried Tanefeu 19-3 and 133 pounds, with three very impressive four point tilts throughout the match. Teske only needed 4:09 to finish Tanefeu off. #2 Real Woods also came out hot, beating Pat Nolan 15-1, just one point away from a second straight Hawkeye tech fall. #10 Max Murin kept his streak of wins going, beating Chance Lamer 10-4.
The most exciting match came at 157, with the #13 ranked junior Cobe Siebrecht upsetting Michigan’s #10 Will Lewan 3-1 in a sudden victory in the fourth period. Lewan had Siebrecht tied up less than a minute in, but Siebrecht remained calm. He rolled over Lewan and spun around the back for a two point takedown, accompanied by the loudest crowd cheers of the night in Carver.
(JOSEPH CRESS/IOWA CITY PRESS-CITIZEN)
In the second half of the meet, Patrick Kennedy started off with a bang, pinning Alex Wesselman in the first period. While Kennedy expected #6 ranked Wolverine Cameron Amine to wrestle, he took care of business when he got red shirt freshman Wesselman instead. #16 Nelson Brands at 174 also got his fair share of Carver chants, winning 5-1 over Joseph Walker.
The Hawks took their first of two losses at 184, with Drake Rhodes being tech falled by #9 Matt Finesilver in the second period. It’s been a tough task for Rhodes all year to wrestle above his weight, especially in the absence of Abe Assad. Rhodes just used his last red shirt freshman match today, so it’ll be interesting to see if Brands burns it next week, or if another fresh face appears at 184 against Oklahoma State.
#11 Jacob Warner bounced back better than ever, pummeling Brendin Yatooma 16-1 for Iowa’s second tech fall of the night. And finally, #3 Tony Cassioppi took on Goliath, wrestling #1 Mason Parris who was 22-0 before the match. Cassioppi had never beaten Parris, and narrowly took home the underdog story. However Parris got a late takedown in the third to extend his career record against Cassioppi to 4-0, winning 9-7.
(JOSEPH CRESS/IOWA CITY PRESS-CITIZEN)
Next week the Hawkeyes will have their final home meet against Oklahoma State on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 3:30pm. It’ll be more than just a regular match, as Sunday will be senior day and alumni day. A big showing is expected in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with hopes of a 15th win and a shot at the national championships.
